Are you one of the many people with a desire to cut the utility cord and go off grid? If you have ever dreamed about the possibility of using electricity that you generate on your own and telling your power company to take a hike, it is easier than ever. This article will outline the steps you can take to get closer to achieving that dream.
Rooftop or ground mount?
The first step is to assess your property and decide if a ground mount or a roof mount system would work best.If you are considering a rooftop system, you will need to assess the condition of the roof. If your roof will need to be repaired or replaced in the next five to ten years, you may consider taking care of the repairs before placing the system. After the system is installed it would need to be removed in order to make repairs.
With either system, check for obstacles which will cast shade on the system during the day. This may be trees, neighbor’s rooflines or other such obstacles. Shade will reduce the power production capabilities of your system. In the northern hemisphere, it is best to have a southwest or south exposure on the system.
What size system?
A previous article, Solar 101, discussed how to read your electric bill and compute your average electric usage. National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL) has a fairly decent solar calculator called PV Watts (http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/). The calculator has a feature that allows you to draw a system on your roof or elsewhere on your property and it will estimate the average size. There are options to change system losses, azimuth and tilt values. Once those values are set, the next screen will estimate how much electricity your system will generate monthly and annually.
A 1000-watt system with good solar radiation should generate in the ballpark of 1000 watts (1kW) or more per year under ideal conditions. What if your house used 10,000 watts per year and you don’t want to invest in a 10,000-watt (10kW) system? Work towards making your house more efficient: install LED lights, insulate, put in new windows and do other energy efficiency practices to reduce your energy usage. The cheapest energy is always that which you don’t use.
This story is from the Fall 2016 edition of BugOut MAG!.
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This story is from the Fall 2016 edition of BugOut MAG!.
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Preparedness: An Overview
If you are reading this, you have probably already become concerned about future events and have begun to take responsibility for your and your family’s survival. You may be alarmed at the increasing number, variety and severity of disasters throughout the world, particularly in the United States. This is not your imagination. Things are getting more dangerous, and the infrastructure and emergency services are starting to break down. One disaster often contributes to another. Who can doubt that the immense costs of the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina contributed to the economic collapse? The shrinking economy reduces funds for infrastructure improvements, safety, emergency services and police; this then sets us up for further attacks and disaster. The eventual result of these combined and multiplying manmade and natural disasters could trigger a general world collapse sometime in the next twenty to one hundred years.
A Prepper's First Year
Tips for the Beginning Prepper.
Snakebit!
North America has its fair share of venomous snakes, including rattlesnakes, coral snakes and copperheads. According to a The U.S. Food and Drug Administration report, an estimated 8000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year. Roughly .2% of these people will die from these bites. The rest have to deal with the unpleasant effects the snakebites, which may include infections and amputations.
Hygiene in Emergencies
Whether a storm hits your home, a vacation goes awry, or you fall on hard financial times, there are some items you absolutely cannot do without. It is important to consider personal hygiene as much as good nutrition and first aid care.
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Spring is in the air, and after a long, cold winter, there’s nothing like seeing the snow melting away. The warmth of the sun and rising temperatures are sure signs of better days to come. The birds are singing and all is right with the world, at least for the moment.
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Survival Items
You Can Scavenge from Vehicles.
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I remember it all too well: the season that didn’t want to end.
Prepping With Pets
In today’s world, it’s not uncommon for the average individual to prepare for disaster.
Survive an Active Shooter
Active shooter situations are becoming more frequent. An “active shooter” is someone who initiates a shooting, and either remains at the scene or in motion shooting multiple rounds at multiple victims.
